Ruination.

[Darth Metus]

Location: Kaas City, Dromund Kaas​

Objective: Huntin'​

Dromund Kaas.

In recent history, the mere mention of the former Sith capital instilled the sensation of fear in the hearts of many. At the height of its power, the Sith Empire struck terror into the hearts of its enemies...until its momentous collapse. By the hands of the Mandaloians and the Republic, the proud nation was cut asunder. Dromund Kaas, by far, received the cruelest fate; for the shining gem which represented the Empire was bombarded...by asteroids. In an instant, the once-proud planet was reduced to a shadow of its former self.

Infrastructure was obliterated. Millions upon millions of lives were extinguished.

When it was all said and done, the entire planet was but a ruin. Chaotic storms of dust and rubble soon began to ravage what remained. From thenceforth, "safe" travel on the surface became an illusion. Only the brave or the incredibly stupid willingly decided to venture to Dromund Kaas...and Isley Verd was sometimes regarded amongst both. What had drawn the Mandalorian Alchemist to the ruined capital was not idle sightseeing, however. He was searching for something...something that would only rear its ugly head in the wake of calamity.

Terentatek were nasty beasts. Born of the Dark Side, they usually kept to themselves unless fluctuations in the Darkness spurned them out. With the recent demise of the Dark Lord of the Sith, such fluctuations were occurring on a semi-daily basis...and it was only a matter of time before the monstrosities made their presences known. Of their probable sites of appearance, the ruins of Dromund Kaas was a high possibility. Being the former seat of numerous Sith nations, in addition to the site of one of the largest genocides in recent history, the world was easily one of Isley's best options.

As such, the durasteel-clad warrior trudged along on the planet's surface. It seemed as though fortune smiled upon the Mandalorian in those moments, for a dust storm had not kicked up in his general vicinity. Visibility was, for the most part, clear and Isley was in no immediate danger of being buried underneath dirt and rubble. Having been upon the world numerous times before, Isley recognized that where he stood was once apart of the capital city. In particular, he was only a stone's throw away from the Academy...well, what was left of the Academy.

The Academy was not a bad place to start seeking out the Terentatek in earnest; for if none turned up, perhaps he could at least walk away with some sort of salvage. With that thought in mind, the Mandalorian made his way through what little remained of the city's streets until he arrived before the Academy. Surprisingly enough, a few solid chunks of the structure had survived the calamity; thereby leading to some confidence on Isley's part. An initial glance told him that the chance of the ruins collapsing on his head weren't as high as other places in the city.

Reaching for his utility belt, the Mandalorian gripped the hilt of his personal lightsaber and tugged it free. He did not ignite its blade yet, for there were no threats detected on his helm's scanners. However, as he drew ever closer to the structure, his scanners picked up the unmistakable signs of a lifeform. It was alone. It was dead ahead.

It was...a woman?

[member="Lilith Engelis"]

 

[Vesphira So'Kil]

Hatred;
It had a tendency to leave an unpleasant taste in one's mouth...

Everything these ruins represented she hated. The people. Their ways. The teaching. Thinking back on what she had endured made her blood boil and her anger flare considerably.. Glancing around, she couldn't help the grim smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth...
Thankfully, hatred wasn't the only thing she felt upon being here and seeing what had been done since she had left...


Glee;
Oh yes, the glee at the demise of all that she had come to despise so passionately. It left her giddy and slightly breathless. Giving her a somewhat feral look. Spinning around, it wasn't long before she threw her head back and laughed out loud, taking in everything and being completely okay with what had happened to the people and the planet. Before long she seemed to regain some thread of sanity. Glancing around once more, surveying everything, she gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, working out the minor kinks.


Orginally, she had thought returning here would be a mistake that she wouldn't be able to handle it and she may snap. But, this? Oh this was perfect.. This was JUST what she needed, it not only reassured her of her decision but it relieved any guilt she may have felt. She was after all taught of survival of the fittest.


Snapping out of her daze, she would glance towards the enterance of the Academy, deeming her time of gloating was over. There was after all things she needed to do, people to meet and things to learn.. She would be damned if she allowed her past to hold her back. Drawing in one final breath to steal herself, she made her way towards the exit.

[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Darth Metus]

Now that was certainly something you didn't see everyday.

Before the eyes of the Mandalorian was a woman. She, a stark contrast to the dust and rubble strewn all about, literally shook with glee at the sight of the ruins. Peals of...semi-deranged...laughter flew from her lips and reverberated across the space. Although there was nothing overly menacing about the woman, her laughter sent an icy chill racing down Isley's spine. Although he had anticipated discovering something amidst the ruins...this was certainly not it.

When the peals of laughter came to a conclusion, the Mandalorian began to step forward. His presence was announced by the clattering of his armor, the dull thud of his footsteps upon the stone, and the shuffle of dirt as he moved. Although he clutched his saber firmly within his dominant hand, the arm itself was lowered in a non-threatening manner. At this very moment, Isley did not mean this woman any harm, but that could very well change depending upon the next few seconds.

"What in Mandalore's name do you find so funny?" he began, coming to a halt only a few paces away. "And I suppose the better question is: 'What are you doing here?'" With his inquiries stated, Isley stood fast and awaited a response.

[member="Lilith Engelis"]

 

[Vesphira So'Kil]

Great just great;
She wasn't alone, She hated being taken off guard, even more so given where she was located currently.
Her head soon turned in the direction of the sound of that somewhat annoying clatter..

Oh look whomever it was wore pretty armor; How quaint..
A brow rose into a slight arch, her surprise at stumbling upon another quickly being smoothed away into a semi bemused expression.


Throwing her arms out, she motioned to all that was surrounding them," This, This is Glorious!" She made sure to add special emphasis to her statement, not caring how it may be taken. She was still humming with the affects of her slightly deranged onset of glee.


Her mannerisms gave off a slightly crazed edge to them, yet her actions spoke of one capable of calculated speech and actions. Studying the person before her in silence for a few measured moments it wasn't long before she began speaking once more,"As for your question, I am simply a traveler. My name is of no importance currently. Though, be that as it may be. I will do the somewhat polite thing and tell you. I am known as Lilith.."

[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Darth Metus]

Glorious?

Now there was a strange way of putting things. While the Mandalorian was all for the conquests of his people, he wouldn't exactly classify the crumbling ruin around them as "glorious". So much had been lost in but a mere handful of seconds; secrets that could have been utilized to further their battle against the Sith...yet, what was done was done, and Isley couldn't change that. Instead, he plucked his mind from the spiral of "what could have been" and placed the whole of his attention upon the woman before him.

A traveler...who managed to venture to Dromund Kaas without drawing the attention of the Mandalorians. A woman named Lilith...

"Interesting." he began, taking a bold step forward. "I'll admit, I don't see the Glory in this ruin...Perhaps you could point it out to me." Then, his approached ceased, for he did not want to come off as a threat to the woman. However...he did need to assess just how much of assess threat she could be. At once, his helm set about scanning the woman, seeking out armaments, tools, or anything that could be used to bludgeon him to death. Nothing horrendous turned up, not in the slightest.

"I suppose I should be a good host and introduce myself as well then. I am Isley Verd, Rally Master of the United Clans...and this is our rock." he said, indicating the space around them. "That said...calling yourself a traveler doesn't tell me what you are doing here. Dromund Kaas isn't exactly a tourist attraction. So, I'll ask again: what are you doing here?"

 

[Vesphira So'Kil]

Not missing his oncoming approach, her guard was instantly up. Remaining calm and collected, she began cursing herself inwardly for her apparent carelessness. Sighing, she actually bit back a very un-ladylike curse, she should of known someone would show up with questions... And it would be just her luck that it would be a damned party associated with the destruction of this place..

Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to go over the various options of actions she could take, most of them not seeming very appealing due to the conclusion of what might occur soon after. Pursing her lips, she considered opting for silence, a likely choice given the circumstances at hand. Running over them and deciding against each and everyone , she concluded it was in her best interest to in fact answer his questions and then make her departure.

"I came to pay my respects, even if I hated this place and all it stood for.. They had this coming..."

Whispered words slipped past her lips,laced with both a slight touch of sadness swallowed by contempt and hatred. Sighing once more, she debated making the dash in the direction towards freedom of the questions and this.... Person.. It would appear that he had in fact rubbed against her in the wrong way. First with his taking her by surprise then his knack of making her feel both crazy and slightly.... Yes, slightly guilty.. Watching him like a hawk for any signs of a threat, she'd soon poise herself in a subtle manner ready to react should she need to.







[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Darth Metus]

Admittedly, the Mandalorian was many things...and a Human was amongst them. He, despite being a warrior and a wielder of Darkness, had the capacity to be empathetic. What's more, he had less enmity towards the Sith then his fellows; for he formerly stood as a Voice of the One Sith after all. All of these factors resulted in a sigh upon hearing the woman's reasons for making the journey to Dromund Kaas. She had literally risked her life to pay respects to a crumbling ruin, and all the memories associated with it...Isley, oddly enough, respected that immensely.

"Then I am no threat to you." he began, going so far as to return his lightsaber to his belt as a symbol of this truth. "However, my brothers and sisters of the Clans would have no reservations about killing you on the spot. Even if your intentions are benign. The fact that you are Sith makes you unworthy of life in their eyes." Having said this, the Mandalorian braved another step forward. He did not push his luck by moving further, but instead folded his arms and halted. "I...was once apart of the Sith Empire. The sole apprentice to the Emperor's right hand man. I knew this facility very well, as I'm sure you do...so I'll offer you an opportunity in light of our common background. I work for Akure Executive Interstellar, a corporation cleared to excavate on Dromund Kaas. For the duration of your visit on the world, you shall stay at my side. You will say that you are my assistant and as such will not have to worry about danger from my people...In exchange, I ask a small sum of your time in actually helping me find that which I seek. A Terentatek. Fair enough?"

Only a fool would decline. What was a few hours looking around in exchange for safe passage?

[member="Lilith Engelis"]

 

[Vesphira So'Kil]

A low t'sking sound would pass her lips before she smothered it. Hearing his words caused the desire to verbally lash out to arise. Biting back any snarky remarks she made of had, she would then heave a sigh that had her shoulders rising and then lowering. Keeping her guard up, she would frown at his actions.

Him moving closer had her backing up slightly. This would be due to her not being keen on being in close proximity to others, she would purse her lips, chewing on the bottom one as she weighed her options. She saw no harm in tagging along side him for the time being. What was the worse that could happen?


Giving him another once over, she would soon incline her head, signaling for him to lead the way. As he spent time with her he would soon discover that she was a person of few words, finding no use in wasting the energy to speak meaningless nonsense. When and if she had something to say, she would make it known. But, for now she would take him up on his offer. As she saw it, it could be an opportunity for her to study him further.


[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Malok]

Silence.

In certain cases, it was assumed that the failure (or choice) to respond was a sign of acceptance...and this very moment was one such instance. The Sith Lord in Mandalorian Armor took a moment to gaze upon the now-quiet in front of him...before motioning with his hand for her to follow. While the Academy was an excellent place to look, they would accomplish nothing by staying in the entrance hall. In fact, Darth Metus estimated that they would find what they sought in the dark below. As such, the durasteel-clad warrior led the way deeper into the ruined facility; making sure to keep his guard up all the while.

* * *​

For what seemed a small eternity, the Sith Lord walked on. Every now and again, he would have to carefully move debris out of his path via telekinesis, but for the most part the journey was not difficult in the slightest. Despite this "ease", Darth Metus knew better than to allow himself to get complacent. At any instant, the monstrosity he sought could appear...or the woman following close behind could strike. On that matter, Lilith was very quiet as they moved along; obviously denoting that she was a woman of few words.

While this did not bother the Sith, it did pique his curiosity. She was a literal enigma...and that in itself warranted pieces of conversation here and there. "So tell me." he began. "Was your training under the Academy ever fully completed?" This was quite the question, for its answer would inform the Sith of all he needed to know. If she did not complete her training, then there was the potential for her to learn more...but if she did, she could potentially be a threat. More so than the Sith initially estimated.

As he afforded Lilith time to answer, he placed the whole of his attention on the path ahead. Before them laid what was left of a training "arena." The damage was extensive to the point where the space looked more cavern than advanced simulator. However, the dark and stone would not deter the Sith Lord...are neither would it quell the hunger of that which waited in the shadows. As the armored warrior took his initial steps forward, a low, guttural noise tore through the air. It reverberated about them, announcing the presence of the beast Metus so diligently sought.

A Terentatek.

Huddled in the far north corner, the beast gorged itself upon a carcass that seemed recently slain. Perhaps it was another traveler like Lilith who had simply gone too far off the beaten path...but there was nothing that could be done for the poor sod now. Darth Metus instinctively tore his saber from his belt and ignited its blood crimson blade. He then looked back to Lilith and barked information...and orders. "These things are immune to the Force and they are incredibly strong, fast, and poisonous to us force users. I don't know your specialties, but conventional combat won't work against it. We weaken it, we live. Hoist those rocks over there and chuck them as hard as you can. Aim for the head. I'll draw its attention!"

With that said, the Sith Lord thrust forward his dominant hand and projected a torrent of lightning across the space. It tore into the flesh of the beast, causing sizzling wherever it struck...but that would not be nearly enough to take it down. In fact, that just made it mad.

[member="Lilith Engelis"]

 

[Vesphira So'Kil]

A crack of the neck was given.


Calculating , crimson eyes stared out upon the path before her. Nostrils flared, but she smelled nothing but the dust . She licked her lips but tasted naught but her own flesh. There was no wind, no breeze, to stir the darkness of her hair. She spoke forth quietly, tiredly, "My training was interrupted ."


Footsteps, slow and purposeful, advanced in the direction the male before her lead and the woman stared coldly at the ground as she walked towards where he lead Coming to where he had stopped at the sight of the beast, her lips parted so that she might speak.
"As you wish.." The woman's voice slid with serpentine cruelty towards where he happened to be standing, Turning her attention to the beast she found beautiful in a sick and twisted way.


"Such a shame.." She would murmur more to herself than him before tapping into the force and hurling the massive stones at the beast before them, all the while managing to keep both her guard and wits about her. A calculating look was given to the situation before them, her mind already analyzing and cataloging possible courses of actions to be taken in this specific situation.

[member="Darth Metus"]